“That’s a good question, but what does any of it matter? Sotoro obviously didn’t want any police involved so we know what was taken must mean big bucks. There’s no use in trying to figure it all out. I say we don’t try so hard to find this woman and we head to Pearl to hang out with our friends,” Weston suggested.
“He’s got a point. This shit has ‘fucked up’ and ‘chaos’ written all over it,” Winter added.
“Why did the Cuban want us involved, I mean besides the fact that we know this guy Kever killed Parker?” Weston asked.
“Because this woman knows something more and the Cuban wants whatever it is she has,” Storm stated.
“Then we should find this woman and her sister first, figure out what she has that the Cuban wants, and maybe it will be worth our while,” Weston suggested.
“I thought you just said you didn’t like this situation and that we’re trying to go more legit? Now you think this could be a negotiating tool?”
“You never know, Storm. I’m just saying that there are two sides to every story, and if these women and children took off and haven’t been found, they’re either dead or very smart and we’re probably not the only ones trying to find them.”
“I say we have York and Zin contact some friends in the government. Something could be going on and I don’t want to step in the middle of it,” Storm said and the others agreed.
“Then do it, and we head to Pearl for a little relaxation time with our buddies before we start closing the deal in Houston with the new security firm there,” Storm said.
“Sounds like a plan,” Weston replied.
Storm looked at Winter, who stared at the picture of the woman.
“Arabella Hopkins. Why were you at the club that night?”
Storm looked over his shoulder.
“You guys are right about her. Look at her profile. She’s a chef, trains in martial arts, and aced the police exam. She was going to become a cop. Why would she be involved with these assholes Kever and Perrone?” Storm asked.
“There’s a record on file from five years ago. The sister Cora pressed charges against her boyfriend and got an order of protection. Then they had a kid together,” Winter replied.
“Well, we know Perrone is an asshole. I bet he got a kick out of knocking his girlfriend around and then knocking her up twice and making her stay with him.”
“She did jobs for him, Weston. Didn’t you read up on the info we found?” Winter asked.
“I did, and I got it. Poor Chicago girl gets caught up in the whole sexy, wealthy gangster retired soldier thing, except, he’s a piece of shit who has no respect for women and he uses her to run drugs, manipulate clients, and perhaps even service them. We’ve seen it all before,” Weston said.
Winter tapped the picture of Arabella. “Not this one though. I don’t get why I feel this way, but I’m telling you that uncovering this woman’s location is going to cause a bad situation.”
“Then we do what we said and if we find her, we question her ourselves and take it from there. Agreed?” Storm asked.
“Agreed. Let’s call York and Zin. We need the crew on this one, plus they’re practically packed for Pearl as is after the security detail they just finished up,” Winter said and Storm chuckled.
“So are we.”
* * * *
“I want to know who these guys are and where we can find them. They’re not touching Arabella or her family.” Smith raised his voice and slammed his hand down on the kitchen island.
Reno knew the guys were all going to be upset when he told them about the meeting with Cora. But so much had transpired between the time he left the department and coming home to see Arabella relinquishing control to Smith and Brock in the office. Seeing her spread like that on the chair, moaning, coming, and calling out Smith’s and Brock’s names was life altering.
“I know you’re all pissed off and just as scared and concerned as I am, but we are going to do this right. Wyatt and Mark are insistent that we need to keep this quiet and understand that Arabella doesn’t know her sister did this.”
“My God, Reno, they went through so much. Hell, Arabella sacrificed so much for all of them. She doesn’t deserve to be scared anymore. She deserves to be pampered, loved, and cherished,” Rex replied.
“It was a lot to take in, and from what I gathered, Arabella is really scared of this guy, Kever, and she should be. Mark got some info on him through some friends in the government. All on the down low so nothing will pop up. Cora insisted that these men were more than capable of tracking them down if their names were entered in any computer systems. So Arabella ensured they used cash, never used a cell except burners to contact the judge from the custody case and the detective. She did a lot of crazy shit to remain undetected. She was the one who recorded the abuse as evidence to use against Anthony when it became necessary.”
“Shit. Was there anything that could get Arabella locked up? Because if there is, I want it gone, I want it taken care of,” Brock stated.
“I’m already all over that and so are Mark and Wyatt. Just like us they want this family safe and want them to have an opportunity to be free from all this shit. Mark is looking more into the characters that were involved with Anthony and Kever and the operations they partook in. Cora did some bad stuff, and Arabella was there to get her out of it. Arabella had even taken the police exam and was going to go into the academy, but with all the stuff Cora was involved in and with the abuse from Anthony, Arabella gave up that dream. She’s sacrificed a lot. More than she should have,” Reno said.
“My God, I want her here with us. I don’t want her out of our sight,” Smith said.
Reno looked at him. “We need to handle this accordingly. When Arabella finds out that her sister gave us all this information, she’s going to be pissed off. We need to be able to diffuse the situation and make her understand that she’s not running anymore and that we’re here for her. Pearl is her home and we’re her guardians, her lovers and protectors.”
“I can see that’s not going to be easy, considering she wouldn’t stay here tonight with us. She’s still holding back, still fearful of trusting completely,” Rex said.
“It’s understandable. This guy Kever is one sick fuck. Mark got some shit on him, plus what Cora told us he will stop at nothing to get his hands on Arabella. Especially after what she did to get them out of there.”
“Then we do what we do best and we protect what’s ours. All this is going to have to come out sooner or later with Arabella. We work on gaining that full trust and getting her to talk to us about her life in Chicago. We’ll break through those walls. This is the real thing. Love, marriage, kids, the whole fucking thing with Arabella and no assholes from Chicago are going to get in the way,” Smith said.
They all agreed.
“So what’s the next step?” Brock asked Reno.
He looked at all of them, his team, his family. “Like Smith said, we protect our family, we remain on guard, and we let Mark, Wyatt, Virgo, Dale, and their teams do their thing.”
Smith got up and stretched out his arms, cupping his hands behind his head as he paced. “How the fuck l am I going to sleep tonight knowing what Arabella and her family went through. They were living in that fucking car, she was taking on odd jobs, jobs that could have gotten her hurt, raped, or even killed so she could provide for her family, and they were on the run for three fucking years. How the hell did she do it?” Smith asked, his anger, his upset obvious in his tone of voice.
“Because she’s a survivor, a fighter. It’s part of why we’re all so attracted to her. She’s a lot like us. Dwelling on all that won’t help us to help her get through the bad memories, and it sure won’t help us to prepare for the worst,” Brock said.
“The worst?” Rex asked.
“Yeah, the worst will be if these men Anthony and Kever track Arabella to Pearl to take them back, to finish what Kever started in Arabella’s bedroom three years ago,” Reno said.
&n
bsp; “Over my dead body. I say we find out where these men are and we do what we’re all more than capable of doing, and we take them out, eliminate the problem. They disappear, end of story,” Smith said firmly.
“I’m all for that. Fuckers like that don’t deserve to be alive,” Rex added.
“We can’t. It’s not so simple, and this is not some military mission for the government. It would be murder plain and simple, and we’re going to risk a life sentence where none of us will be able to protect and love Arabella ever again. Let’s protect her while Mark and his team do the rest. It will work out,” Brock said.
“You saw her go into her cottage? The security cameras were up and running and the guard was patrolling?” Smith asked Brock.
“Yes, I walked her to her door, kissed her good night, and checked with Charlie at the front gate.”
“Let’s make a plan, a schedule of watching over her. Something that will seem natural to her, and something that will ensure we get to know our woman completely and gain her full trust. I’m sure we all don’t mind organizing this mission,” Rex said, trying to lighten up the intense feeling in the room.
“Agreed,” Smith said, and the others chimed in, too.
Chapter 13
Arabella showered and did her hair after she went for a run in the morning. She walked out to the front porch to find her mom there sipping a cup of tea. She was watching Cora who sat on the bench talking to Marissa, a young woman who’d recently come to Second Chances. Arabella smiled. They were all making friends, especially the children who were playing and laughing.
“Good morning,” her mom said with a smile.
“Good morning, Mom.” Arabella kissed her cheek and then stood by the railing.
“You got in kind of late last night.” Her mom took a sip of tea.
Arabella was staring toward the open fields and the bench and pond where she’d spent some quality time with Rex and Reno. Last night had been amazing, and she knew she was in love with all four men already. She felt so desperate to see them. She had looked at the clock in the room and she still had an hour to go.
“Honey, you didn’t have to come home last night you know. You have a right to a personal life now. This is your new beginning,” her mom said, drawing her attention back to her.
“What?”
Her mom chuckled. “Oh, I’m so happy for you. You love them, huh?”
Arabella lowered her eyes and felt kind of guilty, a feeling she was getting more and more lately whenever she felt happy. It was like she thought she didn’t have that right because of their situation. “What are you talking about?”
“The fact you haven’t heard a word I said since you came out here. It’s no big deal, baby. I’m very happy for you. Rex, Reno, Smith, and Brock are definitely amazing men. I’m sure hearts are breaking all over Pearl, but you deserve the best.
She looked at her mom and plopped down into the chair next to her. She took her mom’s hand into hers as she felt the tears reach her eyes.
“Oh God, Mom, I do love them. It’s so crazy. Right now I wish they were here with me. I don’t want to be apart from them.”
Her mom smiled. “Then don’t be, Arabella. You’re a grown woman. You have a right to a love life and to be happy.”
Arabella shook her head and looked back toward Cora.
“Sweetheart, you do have a right to this. You’ve sacrificed so much for Cora, for all of us. It’s time to let go. It’s time to focus on your life, your dreams and happiness. We’ll be right here, backing you up and supporting you like you’ve done for us.”
Tears filled Arabella’s eyes. “But I feel guilty every time I feel happy and alive.”
“That’s crazy, and it isn’t necessary. That’s not what Cora wants, what I want for you. We’re going to be okay. Enjoy this time with your men and the possible future you have with them.”
“But Kever.”
“Shhh, don’t say his name, don’t think about him. You’re safe here and he can’t find you.”
Arabella hugged her mom. “God, this is crazy. I’m not supposed to see them for another hour. Smith and Brock were going to help me with the business cards we never finished yesterday.
Her mom chuckled as she looked past her. “Well, don’t look now, but I think they may be feeling just as antsy to see you as you are to see them.”
Arabella widened her eyes and then turned around to see Smith and Rex heading toward them. She smiled wide. “God, they’re so good looking.”
“They sure are,” her mom said as both men approached.
Arabella remained sitting down. “What are you two doing here already?” she asked.
“Morning, Mary,” both men greeted her mother.
“Morning, Reno. Smith.”
Smith reached down to Arabella, took her hand, and pulled her up into his arms.
“We couldn’t wait another hour to see you.” He softly kissed the corner of her mouth and her heart soared.
“What are you three up to today?” her mom asked. Smith released Arabella to Rex, who caressed his knuckles down her cheek and then kissed her hello. Both men looked incredible and Arabella felt her entire body hum with awareness.
“Well, lunch in town, then some creative work on the computer trying to create the right business cards and logo for Arabella, and dinner at our place.”
“Sounds like fun. Don’t worry about us, Arabella, we’ll be fine,” her mom said as the guys walked down the steps. After saying good-bye, Arabella grabbed her purse, but her mom stopped her.
“You stay with them if you want to. They care about you deeply and they’re trustworthy men. I’ll see you sometime tomorrow,” her mom said with a wink and a smile. Arabella felt her cheeks warm as a nervous chuckle rumbled from her belly.
She walked down the steps, and they headed toward Cora and the kids to say good-bye. Cora seemed happy, but she looked at Rex a little differently. Arabella caught it, but it wasn’t like she didn’t like him or trust him. It was almost like they shared a moment of awareness. Arabella was good at reading people, watching their eyes and body language. She had wanted to be a police officer and perhaps a detective for many years. There was something there. But before she could analyze it, Smith was pulling her against his side and wrapping an arm around her waist.
“I missed you so damn much. I need you in my arms at night, baby. I couldn’t even sleep without you.” They got to the truck, and before he helped her in, he pulled her into a hug then cupped her cheeks and kissed her deeply. His hand roamed over the black skirt she wore and went straight to her ass. “I want you for lunch.”
She chuckled. “I think a big man like you needs real food.”
“I don’t know about that, Arabella. Your sweet cream is pretty damn filling,” Rex added, and she felt her cheeks blush as she pressed her face to Smith’s chest. His chuckle rumbled against her ear.
“Get on in, baby.” Smith lifted her up and placed her onto the seat in the high pickup truck. Rex was there to pull her close and kiss her thoroughly. Eyes still closed she leaned back and exhaled.
“God, your kisses should all be illegal.”
Rex’s hand smoothed over her knee up her thigh to her pussy as he leaned close. “This body should be illegal.”
She pressed his hand away. “Rex.”
He scrunched his eyebrows together. “Hey, that belongs to us now, remember that.”
She blushed and shook her head as he started the truck.
“Oh yeah, I love this outfit, baby. It’s a shame it won’t be on very long,” Smith said, reaching over and playing with the small buttons on her blouse.
Her pussy clenched and her nipples hardened. She felt so sexy and brazen.
“I think you may be onto something, Smith. Skip the restaurant and take me to your place. I need you, too,” she said.
Smith’s eyes darkened. He leaned forward and kissed her as Rex practically sped out of the parking lot.
* * * *
The sec
ond the truck stopped in the driveway, Smith shoved open the door, jumped down, and held his arms out to Arabella. She smiled softly, her cheeks red from more than likely shocking herself with her confession of needing them. They needed her, too. He’d tossed and turned all night worried about Arabella. He took her into his arms. The driver side door slammed closed, and Rex met them by the front of the truck. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. Smith ran his hands along her thighs and under her skirt.
“Let’s get her inside or I’m going to make good use of that porch bench swing,” Smith said and Arabella moaned. Swiftly Rex bent down and swooped her up into his arms and carried her toward the house.
Smith closed the front door and locked it as Rex carried her straight upstairs to the bedroom. Smith watched as Arabella ran her fingers through Rex’s hair and kissed his neck, suckled his skin, and wiggled in his arms.
“We’re almost there, baby. I know you need it, too. God, I fucking missed you last night. Tonight you’re staying here. No arguments, you got it?”
“Yes. Oh yes, I’m staying. I want to. I missed you so much, too.”
Smith’s heart tightened with emotion. He pulled his shirt up and over his head, kicked off his shoes, and undid his pants as fast as he could.
Rex set Arabella down and went straight for the hem of her blouse, pulling it up and over her head as she raised her arms up assisting him. He kissed her again in between stripping her of her clothing, and Arabella did the same to Rex. Smith stepped closer, cupping her breasts as Rex undid his shoes and cursed about getting out of one that was on too tight. Arabella chuckled and Smith lifted her up and placed her on the bed. He pulled her by her hips so her ass and pussy hung off the edge and he held her gaze as he used his palms to spread her thighs wider.
Soldiers of Pearl 1: Invasion of Hearts (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 20